An Avon native wants to bring an innovative crime-fighting device to the public.

Ryan McManus launched a crowd-funding campaign for the Defender, a personal protection system that connects to a smartphone.

It's something you'd expect from an Inspector Gadget movie. The hand-held device features a camera, pepper spray, GPS and a 24/7 response service that calls local authorities with your location. It connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth once the user downloads the Defender app. Users can pepper-spray an attacker, take a photo, sound an alarm and call police — all at the touch of one button.

"No product on the market has these unique features and is made for individuals to carry," McManus said.

The device comes with a test canister, with no mace, and a test mode on the smartphone app so users can practice.

The development team has worked on making the Defender a reality for nearly two years. McManus joined the team in December as a co-founder who would focus on marketing and product development.

McManus said people often call him with stories of why they need a product like the Defender. For some, it's a personal experience with sexual assault. Others have loved ones who were victims of violent crime or were parents sending kids to college.

"Everybody has a story," he said, "and hearing all these stories motivates us to continue making these products."

Despite the device's promise, some people are skeptical the Defender is practical.

"The problem with being involved in any kind of physical altercation with an attacker is by the time this registers on you that this is actually happening to you, it's over," said Bill Head, a criminal justice professor at Indiana University.

Attacks can be unpredictable, and not everyone would have the product at the ready, Head said.

Mallory Gricoskie, spokeswoman for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, also doubts how helpful the device would be.

"We know that people react to threatening situations in a variety of ways," she said. "If I was being attacked, I'm not quite sure I'd think to load (the Defender) to help defend myself. Would I even have the opportunity to do so?"

Contributors, however, seem to believe in the Defender's potential. The crowd-funding campaign launched in July surpassed its $100,000 goal in 24 hours. The campaign ended Sept. 5 after raising more than $231,000.

All contributors will get the Defender delivered. A small group of contributors who gave more than $249 can join the beta team. Beta users will get a test version of the Defender in the next two months. They are expected to send feedback to the development team.